Water heating system



June 15, 1948. R. c. NEWHOUSE WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 1944 mmvrm ig-$171M A TTORA/E Y5.

" Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in automatic water heating systems, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of gas fired automatic liquid heaters.

The principal, object of this invention is to provide 'a new and useful gas fired automatic liquid heating system which is simple and dependable in construction, and which is moreover automatic and highly efficient in operation.

As indicated in my co-pendin application Serial No. 540,849, filed June 1'7, 1944, the ordinary gas fired automatic hot water heater comprises a liquid confining chamber penetrated by an upwardly extending flue for conducting hot gases of combustion to the stack. While this flue must be in open communication with the stack whenever the gas burner is active, considerable heat is wasted if such open communication is permitted to continue after the heating flame has been extinguished, due to the fact that cold air then passes through the fiue and ab-, stracts heat from the hot water. In my prior application a'bove identified, I have disclosed an improved electrical system for preventing such.

undesirable loss of heat, by providing a solenoid actuated damper valve between the heater flue and the stack, another solenoid actuated fuel control valve for the fuel gas, and a thermostatically actuated switch operable by variations in temperature of the water to simultaneously open and close the two valves. Although this prior improved electrical control system is simple and practical, it may be preferable for utmost safety to effect positive opening of .the'damper valve shortly before the fuel supply valve is opened, in order to definitely prevent entrapment of combustible gas within the heating flue, while still retaining the desirable feature of promptly closing both valves whenever the water has been sufficiently heated.

It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention to provide an improved water heater control system of the type having a heating fiue and damper and fuel supply valves, wherein the damper valve is positively opened shortly in advance of each opening of the fuel valve, while both valves are quickly closed when the water has been properly heated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and exceedingly practical water heating system of the gas fuel fiue heated type, and in which free circulation of air and gas through the heating flues is effectively prevented during periods of inactivity, but is automatically permitted whenever the gas burner is active.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric control and actuating system for automatic water heaters, wherein a common thermostat actuated by variations in temperature of the water, is utilized to most effectively control the opening and closing of fuel supply and damper valves associated with the heater.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved hot water heatin system or the like, which is extremely fool-proof and safe in operation, which may be applied at moderate cost to various commercial flue-type water heaters, and which is highly efllcient in normal use.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present improvement, will be clearly apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of one embodiment of the present invention may be had by specific reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate similar parts; and the single figure of which is a diagram illustrating a typical gas fired water heating system embodying the various improvements.

Although my invention has been shown diagrammatically as having been applied to a typical single fiue water heater utilizing combustible .gas as a heating medium and also having solenoid actuated fuel supply and damper valves activated by a single thermostat associated with the liquid confining chamber, it is not desired or intended to unnecessarily restrict the utility of the improvement or the scope of the invention by virtue of this limited and specific disclosure.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the improved automatic water heating system shown diagrammatically therein, comprises in general a main water heater 2 having the usual heat insulated liquid confining chamber 3 penetrated by an upright gas flue 4 for conducting hot gases of combustion from a lower combustion chamber 5 to a stack or outlet connection 6; a cool liquid supply pipe I communicating with a lower portion of the confining chamber 3; a hot liquid discharge pipe 8 communicating with an upper portion of the liquid chamber 3 and extending downwardly through and outwardly from the lower part of the chamber insulating jacket 9; a gas burner l0 disposed within the combustion chamber 5 centrally beneath the fiue 4 and receiving its supply of gas through a fuel supply line H having a Shut-Off valve l2 and a solenoid actuated fuel 3 1 control valve I3 therein; a, pilot gas supply line I4 communicating with the main gas supply line I I between the valves I2, I3 and terminating adjacent to the burner ID; a solenoid actuated damper valve I5 having therein a small gas escape opening I6 and being interposed between the upper outlet end of the flue 4 and the stack connection 6; a thermostat II operable by variations in temperature of the liquid in the chamber 3 to automatically open and close an electric switch l8; independent solenoids I9, 20 associated with the fuel supply and damper valves I3, I5

respectively; another electric switch 2| operable by movement of the damper valve I5 to activate the solenoid I9; and electric wiring 22 connecting the various switches and solenoids and being connectible with the main power line 23 through a main switch 24.

. The main heater 2 may be of any desired-capacity and of relatively well known construction, and the main switch 24 may be operable either manually or automatically with the aid of the usual and well known mechanism for controllin the heating system in accordance with the demand for hot water. As shown, the automatic fuel control valve I3 is of the sliding type having a gas passage 25 therein adapted to register with the adjacent sections of the fuel supply line II when the valve I3 is open; and this valve is adapted to be opened when the solenoid I9 is energized by closing of the switch 2 I, and is closed by a coil spring 25 whenever the solenoid I9 is deenerglzed. The automatic damper valve I5 is shown as being of the poppet type adapted to seat against the upper outlet end of the flue 4; and this valve I 5 is adapted to be opened when wide and eifect closing of the switch 2|, before the fuel control valve I 3 will open; but both valves I5, I3 will close at approximately the same time when the switch I8 is opened.

During normal operation of th improved wa ter heating system, and assuming the chamber 5 3 to be filled with warm water, the thermostatically controlled switch I8 will be open and the valves I3, I 5 will be closed as shown in the drawing, so that the supply of fuel will be cut off and cold air is prevented from circulating freely through the flue 4 by the damper valve I5. When the switch 24 is closed and warm liquid is withdrawn from within the chamber 3 through the outlet pipe 8, cool liquid enters the chamber 3 through the supply pipe I and promptly causes the thermostat II to close the switch I8. This closing of the switch I8 first, energizes the solenoid 20 and causes the damper valve I5 to open until the switch 2| is closed. Closing of the switch 2| will immediately energize the solenoid I9 and will thus cause the fuel control valve I3 to open shortly after the damper valve I5 has been opened. Opening of the valve I3will cause the pilot to immediately ignite the fuel gas delivered from the burner I into the combustion chamber 5, and the prior opening of the damper valve I will permit free escape of gases of comstack through the connection 5.

If withdrawal of warm liquid from within the chamber 3 through the outlet pipe 3 continues at a rate sufficient so that the chamber 3 cannot become filled with warm liquid, then the valves I3, I5 will remain open during such liquid withdrawal period.

If, however, the withdrawal of liquid is'not sufficient to prevent the entire chamber 3 from becoming filled with warm water, then the warm liquid will eventually contact the thermostat I1 and will again cause the switch I8 to open. This opening of the switch I8 will cause the solenoid 20 to immediately become deenergized, whereupon the spring 21 will become eil'ective to promptly close the damper valve I5 and to open the switch 2I. Opening of .the switch 2| will immediately cause the solenoid I9 tobecome deenergized, thus permitting the spring 26 to close the fuel control valve I3, so that both the valve I5 and the valve I3 will be closed at approximately the same time.

It will thus be noted that my present improved system provides simple but effective means operable by variations in the temperature of the liquid within the chamber 3, for initially opening the damper valve I5 and shortly thereafter opening the fuel control valve I3 whenever the burner Ill is to be placed in operation; and for insuring positive and approximately simultaneous closing of the valves I3, I5 whenever the burner I0 becomes inactive. This closing of the damper valve when the fuel supply is shut off effectively prevents loss of heat from within the-water chamber 3 by eliminating free circulation of gases through the flue 4; and in case the pilotlight should become extinguished during periods of inactivity of the heating system, any slight quantitles of gas escaping into the combustion chamber 5 will rise through the flue 4 and will escape to the stack through the small opening I5 formed in the damper valve I5. Utmost safety of the system is thus insured at all times, and the functioning is obviously entirely automatic. The electrical interconnection of the valves l3, I5 is obviously far superior to any mechanical connection which might be provided, since such mechanical connection must necessarily include levers, cams and other parts which are liable to become inoperative and thus preclude safety and reliability in operation. If for any reason the current which normally energizes the solenoids I9, 20, should fail, neither valve I3, I5 will open when the switch II} is closed; but whenever current is available at the tim the switch I8 closes, the damper valve I5 will. first be opened and this opening will be promptly followed by opening of v the fuel supply valve I3. Opening of the switch I8 will result in prompt closing of both of the valves I3, I5 and the improved electrical controlled system makes it possible to utilize the improvement in-conjunction with automatic water heating systems wherein the heater is turned on and off by manipulation of a faucet or other hot water utilizing device.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of a typical water heating system embodying my invention, t will be apparent that my present improvement provides a system whichv is very simple in structure and highly efllcient in operation, and which will effectively prevent loss of heat due to free circulation of cool air through the flue heater, during periods of inactivity of the burner. The efllciency of the heating system is thus enhanced to a maximum, and the electrical system functions to insure quick and reliable operation of the'valves with utmost safety. By utilizing the thermostat ll for actuating the solenoids I9, 20 as an activating source, the openingand closing of the damper and fuel supply valves is quickly effected in accordance with variations in the temperatures of the liquid within the chamber 3, and the improved system can obviously be applied to various types of hot water heaters having one or more heating flues penetrating the fluid confining chamber. The various parts of the improved system are so simple that the entire assemblage can obviously be manufactured and installed at moderate cost, and also makes these parts readily applicable to either existing or new water heaters.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a water heating system, a chamber having a lower water inlet and an upper water outlet, a fuel burner beneath said chamber, a heating flue for conducting gases of combustion upwardly from said burner through the water in said chamber, a fuel supply valve for said burner, a flue valve for controlling delivery of gases from said flue, an independent solenoid for directly opening each of said valves, an independent spring for directly closing each of said valves, a thermostat operable directly by variations in temperature of the water within said chamber, an electric switch operable directly by said thermostat, and another electric switch operable directly by the movement of said flue valve,.said switches being operable in succession to cause said flue and fuel valve solenoids to open their respective valves in rapid succession whenever the thermostat switch is closed and to cause said springs to simultaneously close both valves whenever the thermostat switch is opened.

2. In a water heating system, a chamber having a lower water inlet and an upper water outlet, a fuel burner beneath said chamber, a heating flue for conducting gases of combustion upwardly from said burner through the water in said chamber, a fuel supply valve for said burner having a reciprocable actuating stem, a flue valve for controlling delivery of gases from said flue and also having a reciprocable actuating stem, an independent solenoid coacting directly with each of said valve stems for opening the valves, an independent spring for directly closing each of said valves, a thermostat operable directly by variations in temperature of the water within said chamber, an electric switch operable directly by said thermostat, and another electric switch operable directly by the reciprocation of said flue valve stem, said switches being closable in succession to cause said flue and fuel valve solenoids to open their respective valves in rapid succession whenever the thermostat switch is closed and to cause said springs to simultaneously close both valves whenever the thermostat switch is opened.

RAY C. NEWHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,000 Stafford Dec. 7, 1920 1,995,846. Gauger Mar. 26, 1935 2,117,787 Bock May 17, 1938 2,130,491 Gilliland Sept. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 822,698 France Sept. 27, 1937 

